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Wilfa Svart vs Baratza Encore Grinder Comparison By James Hoffman

After reviewing the Wilfa Svart grinder on another video, this time James Hoffman came up with another video demonstrating two different model of grinders. One of the comparison test that he ran was how long would it take for both grinders to grind the same amount of coffee beans. As a result, The Wilfa Svart grinder takes about twice as much faster than Baratza Encore to complete the grinding process of the coffee beans.

Wilfa Svart Classic –Svart Presisjon Model

Meet the Svart Presisjon (Black Precision) from the Norwegian housewares company, Wilfa. Its unique, modern design sets itself apart and made it a new contender for the best automatic coffee brewer on the European market.

Wilfa has been around since 1948 and has a catalogue of products that include everything from waffle makers to air conditioners to coffee brewers and grinders. But that all changed when they launched the Wilfa Svart Manuell with the help of former World Barista Champion, Tim Wendelboe.

That product, was an attempt to offer an all-in-one package for customers who were curious about manual brewing, but overwhelmed by all the options and tools needed to begin. The Presisjon maintains a lot of the same design DNA as the Manuell but its a much more practical product for the average coffee consumer.

Wilfa has worked with coffee professionals to make sure they were designing great products with coffee quality in mind. From partnering with Tim Wendelboe to demoing the products at the Nordic Barista Cup, there has been a lot of feedback from professionals. The result has been products that look and function very differently from most other existing products.

The most noticeable feature on the Presisjon is the unique water chamber design. This clear tube detaches from the base so it can be filled easier with clean water from the tap.

There are also recommended coffee ratios and water volume marks printed on the side of the chamber, which are quite accurate without the need of a scale. The water is then pumped out from the bottom of the chamber leaving it completely empty at the end of each brew, making sure that there is no water left sitting in the machine to cause problems in the future.

The machine’s one button simplicity is easy for anyone to use but it’s quality and consistency is good enough that it can still be appreciated by coffee geeks as well. Thanks to the brewer’s unique design, you are also able to explore using it as a water delivery device for other brew methods like the Chemex, V60 and Kalita Wave—with great results.

Wilfa Svart Manuell

The pour over method of brewing is one of the best examples of slow, ritualised movements closer to tea brewing – a complete departure from the push-button office coffee makers we are all familiar with.

It is low-tech, requiring only a funnel, a filter and the knowing hand of the person brewing. It forces you to slow down, and in turn appreciate your coffee more.

No wonder then, that a brewing method as transparent and honest as this became an instant hit in the Nordic countries: it reflects two of the guiding principles of not only our approach to coffee, but our approach to life itself.

The Wilfa Svart Manuell is a natural evolution of this trend: understanding that the level of control and the manual nature of the brewing process are important aspects of pour over, and adding a supplementary – not restrictive – layer of technology.

On its own, a beautiful object; falling away and becoming an extension of the user as he or she brews. It is a recipient of the Award for Design Excellence from the Norwegian Design Council.

Svart Manuell takes nothing away from the pour over brewing method. In fact it adds a way to control the flow of water, something that previously required switching funnels: an adjustable aperture.

It is developed in cooperation with Tim Wendelboe, aiming to create a device that would help people hand brew with added ease, but most importantly – brew fantastic coffee.

Baratza Encore Best Setting For French Press

What’s the Ideal French Press Grind Size?

It’s amazing how many people go through life using a press pot with the wrong grind size. Once you start using the right grind however, your french press will receive a new lease on life.

Use a coarse grind for your french press. Do not make the common mistake of going medium or medium fine, unless you like oversteeped (bitter) coffee and a silt-y taste in your mouth.

The french press grind size litmus test: you’ll have a hard time plunging if your grinds are too fine, and plunging will happen to fast if your grinds are too coarse.

There’s more to brewing a good french press than simply throwing in coffee grounds + waterand plunging. The little things make a big difference. Learn how to brew a french press the right way here.

Each bean will grind at a different grind consistency so if you change beans or roasts you will need to adjust the grinder accordingly (based on the outcome of your cup of coffee).

Baratza recommends 30 as the starting point for Press grinds with the Encore